Platinum-copper-titanium fuel cell catalyst

Abstract

A composition for use as a catalyst in, for example, a fuel cell, the composition comprising platinum, copper and titanium, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt of one or more of platinum, copper and titanium, wherein the sum of the concentrations of platinum, copper and titanium, including an oxide, carbide and/or salt thereof, is greater than about 90 atomic percent.

1 . A composition comprising platinum, copper and titanium, or an oxide, carbide or salt of one or more of said platinum, copper and titanium, wherein the sum of the concentrations of platinum, copper and titanium, or an oxide, carbide or salt thereof, is greater than about 90 atomic percent.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the sum of the concentrations of platinum, copper and titanium, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt thereof, is greater than about 94 atomic percent.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the concentration of platinum, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt thereof, at least about 10 and less than about 80 atomic percent.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the concentration of copper, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt thereof, is at least about 5 and less than about 70 atomic percent.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the concentration of titanium, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt thereof, is at least about 1 and less than about 70 atomic percent.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein (i) the sum of the concentrations of platinum, copper and titanium, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt of platinum, copper and titanium, is greater than about 94 atomic percent, and (ii) the concentration of platinum is greater than about 30 atomic percent and less than about 70 atomic percent.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein (i) the sum of the concentrations of platinum, copper and titanium, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt of platinum, copper and titanium, is greater than about 94 atomic percent, and (ii) the concentration of copper, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt thereof, is greater than about 5 atomic percent and less than about 70 atomic percent.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein (i) the sum of the concentrations of platinum, copper and titanium, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt of platinum, copper and titanium, is greater than about 94 atomic percent, and the (ii) the concentration of titanium, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt thereof, is greater than about 5 atomic percent and less than about 60 atomic percent.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition consists essentially of platinum, copper and titanium, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt of platinum, copper and titanium.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein platinum, copper and/or titanium are in their metallic oxidation states.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition consists essentially of an alloy of platinum, copper and titanium.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the concentration of platinum, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt thereof, is greater than about 1 atomic percent.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12  wherein the concentration of copper, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt thereof, is greater than about 1 atomic percent.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the concentration of titanium, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt thereof, is greater than about 1 atomic percent.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the sum or copper and titanium, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt of copper or titanium is at least about 10 atomic percent.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the sum or copper and titanium, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt of copper or titanium is less than 50 atomic percent.  
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the concentration of platinum, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt thereof, is greater than 50 atomic percent and less than about 80 atomic percent, the concentration of copper, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt thereof, is greater than about 20 atomic percent and less than about 40 atomic percent, and the concentration of titanium, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt thereof, is greater than about 5 atomic percent and less than about 30 atomic percent.  
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises an oxide of titanium.  
     
     
         19 . A supported electrocatalyst powder for use in electrochemical reactor devices, the supported electrocatalyst powder comprising the composition of  claim 1  on electrically conductive supports.  
     
     
         20 . A composition comprising platinum, copper and titanium, or an oxide, carbide or salt of one or more of said platinum, copper and titanium, wherein the concentration of titanium, or an oxide, carbide or salt thereof, is greater than about 5 atomic percent and less than about 60 atomic percent.  
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 20 , wherein said composition comprises an oxide of titanium.  
     
     
         22 . A supported electrocatalyst powder for use in electrochemical reactor devices, the supported electrocatalyst powder comprising the composition of  claim 20  on electrically conductive supports.  
     
     
         23 . A composition comprising platinum, copper and titanium, or an oxide, carbide or salt of one or more of said platinum, copper and titanium, wherein the concentration of platinum, or an oxide, carbide or salt thereof, is greater than about 10 atomic percent and less than about 80 atomic percent.  
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said composition comprises an oxide of titanium.  
     
     
         25 . A supported electrocatalyst powder for use in electrochemical reactor devices, the supported electrocatalyst powder comprising the composition of  claim 23  on electrically conductive supports.  
     
     
         26 . A composition comprising platinum, copper and titanium, or an oxide, carbide or salt of one or more of said platinum, copper and titanium, wherein the concentration of copper, or an oxide, carbide or salt thereof, is greater than about 5 atomic percent and less than about 70 atomic percent.  
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein said composition comprises an oxide of titanium.  
     
     
         28 . A supported electrocatalyst powder for use in electrochemical reactor devices, the supported electrocatalyst powder comprising the composition of  claim 26  on electrically conductive supports.  
     
     
         29 . A composition consisting essentially of platinum, copper and titanium, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt of one or more of said platinum, copper and titanium.  
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein said composition comprises an oxide of titanium.  
     
     
         31 . A supported electrocatalyst powder for use in electrochemical reactor devices, the supported electrocatalyst powder comprising the composition of  claim 29  on electrically conductive supports.